Press release

Wed, Jun 12th 2013 02:50 pm

State
Sen. George Maziarz, R-C-Newfane, has announced Senate bill 5481, legislation
creating a refundable tax credit for broadband deployment to homes and small
businesses in rural areas, has passed with bipartisan support in the Senate.

This
legislation, expanding on Gov. Cuomo's ConnectNY Program, creates
public-private partnerships to bring broadband to the rural, under-served areas
of New York. This bill, titled the Rural Broadband Deployment Act, will allow
residents and small businesses in these areas to come together and select a
broadband provider to bring them services. Any eligible out-of-pocket expenses
for construction will be eligible for a 100 percent refundable tax credit over
five years.

No
provider will be eligible for the tax credit, and the provider must make a
significant contribution to construction costs.

"For
many of the rural areas across New York, including many sections of my
district, geographic isolation and conditions have left them without access to
high-speed broadband connections," said Maziarz, sponsor of this legislation. "This
legislation will allow for broadband deployment much more rapidly than is in
the current system, finally getting service to those who live in rural areas. The
public-private relationship established through this bill gives the residents
and small business owners the opportunity to decide what technology and
provider they want with receiving reimbursement, while requiring providers to
make significant contributions should they be selected by the community."

This
legislation is sponsored in the Assembly by Assemblyman Bill McGee and is
currently in the Governmental Operations Committee.